Commission sends reasoned opinions to four Member States for failing to notify measures for the implementation of EU legislation ensuring technical harmonisation and safety on EU inland waterways.

The European Commission has today sent reasoned opinions to United Kingdom, Poland, Luxembourg and Germany for failing to notify measures for the implementation of EU legislation aimed at ensuring technical harmonisation and safety on EU inland waterways. These four Member States now have until 16 March 2010 to respond.

Under Directives 2006/87/EC and 2008/87/EC Member States were required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directives by 30 December 2008. The Directives lay down technical standards for inland waterway vessels and provide for the introduction of a Community certificate valid in all Member States, to be issued by the competent authorities, authorising the skippers from EU Member States to operate on all Community waterways including the Rhine. United Kingdom, Poland, Luxembourg and Germany failed to notify such measures in time despite the fact that the Commission formally gave them notice to submit their observations on the matter.